Experiences of psychedelic drug use among people with psychotic symptoms and disorders: Personal growth and mystical experiences
Journal of Psychedelic Studies July 31, 2024 Joseph T. la Torre, Jade Gallo, Mehdi Mahammadli et al. 6 citations
Most people with a history of psychotic experiences or diagnoses who used psychedelics reported personal growth, mystical-type experiences, improved insight, and feelings of love and appreciation. In an online retrospective survey of 100 such individuals, 88% said their psychedelic experience led to some degree of personal growth. However, 11% described overall negative experiences including symptom exacerbation, dysphoria, and terror, and a slightly larger portion reported mixed experiences. The findings suggest that while many individuals with psychotic histories may benefit from psychedelic experiences, a notable minority experience adverse effects, challenging assumptions that this group should be universally excluded from psychedelic research.